1 million baht bell installed at Big Buddha in Phuket

Work on the 45-meter-high Buddha image at Phuket in the Nakkerd Hills is now about 90% complete. This Thursday on the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day, a huge bronze bell was installed at the site. The one-million baht bell, which weighs one metric ton, was a gift from the Rassada Cooperative Credit Union. Vice Governor Worapot Ratthasima attended the Buddhist ceremony at which gold leaf was applied to the bell and it was struck for the first time on Chulalakorn Day.

The image is officially known as Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri and the project has been funded by funds raised by the Mingmongkol Faith 45 committee. The entire Mingmongkol Buddha project is expected to be complete by 2010, at a total cost in excess of 150 million baht.